Tatas a victim of political conflict, says Nath

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday said the Centre can play a facilitating role to break the Singur stalemate, while describing Tatas as a victim of conflict between two political parties in West Bengal.

"The Centre can play a facilitating role which can help... So that the investment and generation of employment opportunities is not impacted in West Bengal," Nath told PTI.

He said "unfortunately" the issue between two political parties -- ruling Left parties and opposition Trinamool Congress -- had made Tatas "a victim".

Nath said the Singur land issue had nothing to do with the Tatas. "Tatas are a victim of this," he said.

The Commerce and Industry Minister is here in connection with negotiations on India-ASEAN FTA.

The Tatas prestigious Nano small-car project has been facing protests from Trinamool Congress, whose chief Mamata Banerjee has laid a siege to the Tata Motors' project site demanding return of 400 acres of land to farmers, who were allegedly forced to give up their property.